Spike puller



Nov. 6, 1962 P. N. NELSON 3,062,501

SPIKE FULLER Filed May 11, 1959 2 sheets-sheet 1 5o l 70 Ml/l0 T 20 "fg a6 H6. Z l

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Nov. 6, 1962 P. N. NELSON SPIKE FULLER Filed May ll. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1NVENT0R: P5K/VIL /Y /YElfo/v United States Patent y.Otltice 3,062,501 Patented Nov. 6, 1962 3,062,501 SPIKE PULLER Permil N. Nelson, Galesburg, Ill., assignor to Lynn H. Ewing, doing business as Blackhawk Company, Rock Island, Ill.

Filed May 11, 1959, Ser. No. 812,437 8 Claims. (Cl. 254--18) My invention relates to nail or spike pullers or similar devices.

My invention relates more particularly to a device of the type described especially adapted for use in pulling or removing spikes which hold down rails on railroad ties.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for pulling or removing spikes from railroad ties by application of the same to the tie and over the rail that is being held down by the spike, the power for removing the spike being Supplied by air or hydraulic pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described which can be set on the tie fastened over the head of the rail, and a claw or similar device applied to a spike, power in the nature of air pressure -then being applied `and the spike being thus removed.

A further object of the invention is to make a device of the type -described that is operated by air or hydraulic pressure which may be received from the usual type of hand car that is used by railway maintenance men. Since it is well known that most of these hand cars carry a supply of compressed air `or a motor and compressor, a source of power is thus readily available and the unit which I employ may ybe attached by a flexible hose to this source of power.

For a more comprehensive understanding of the nvention and the advantages thereof, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, upon which:

FIG. l is a plan view of my improved spike puller shown in operating position in connection with a railroad tie and rail;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof in a starting position, with the rail and a portion of the cylinder mechanism shown in cross-section;

FIG. 3 is a View from the right of FIG. 2 showing Ithe spike puller after it has been raised to its highest position and with a spike almost completely pulled out of the tie; and

FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2.

In the embodiment of the invention which I have chosen to illustrate and describe the same, the spike puller may be provided with a claw member C which is formed at the lower end of a generally U-shaped cradle that has the upwardly extending legs 12 and 14 terminating in bosses 16 which have a bolt 1S therethrough for mounting the same upon opposite sides of `an inverted -cylindrical cup 20. The cradle 10 is provided with a manually operable rod 22 having a knob 24 at the extended end of the same, the rod 22 being fastened in la boss 26 on the back wall of the cradle 10 adjacent the claw C so that it can be swung about the pivot bolt 18 by manipulation of the handle 22.

I provide a base 30 for positioning on the railroad tie T and over the head of the rail R which may be in the nature of a dat rectangular platform portion 32 adapted to lie over the head of the rail and having a finger portion 34 connected around the outer edge of the rail head. The platform 32 may have a central raised cylindrical boss 36 which is formed integral therewith and a downwardly depending arm 38 provided upon one side with a zigzag face 40 Ito cooperate with the complementary face 42 of a foot member 44 that is attached thereto by means of a bolt 46. The leg 38 has a plurality of `screw-threaded openings 48 for -reception of the bolt 46 so that the height of the base 30 may be adjusted depending upon the height of the rail that is fastened down by the spikes which are to be removed.

The cylindrical boss 36 may have a cup leather piston P fastened on the top side of the' same 4by means of a washer 5t) and lock nut S2, `the same being fastened over the threaded portion of a pipe 54 that has another nut 56 lock-ing the same against the top 60 of the hollow cylinder 36. The cylinder 36 has an opening 62 through the floor or platform portion 32 of the base 3G and the conduit 54 exten-ds down through the same and generally at right angles out below the platform 32, connecting with a horizontal conduit 64 that has a valve 66 therein for controlling the admission of air under pressure above the piston P and Vinto the chamber of the cylinder 20.

From the above and foregoing description it can be seen that when air under pressure is admitted to the chamber 70 in the cylinder 20, the same will be moved upwardly carrying with it the cradle 10, the claw C and the spike S, the claw being previously positioned below the head S of the spike S. The leverage for operation of the piston in a vertical direction is obtained by means of the platform 32 of the base 30 bearing against the top of the head of the rail R, the foot 44 of the same being solidly positioned `against the top of the railroad tie T.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the foot portion of the base and the downwardly depending leg 38 have interconnected slots St) within which the handle or rod 22 of the cradle I0 can ride during a spike pulling operation.

When the air pressure has raised the cylinder 20 to 4its uppermost position to remove the spike, the air pressure may be released by operation of the three-way valve 66, or in some instances the cylinder may have air escape openings 20a about its lower edges.

From the above and foregoing description it will be apparent to -those skilled in the art that I have provided a highly `successful spike pulling device which is operated by compressed air that is normally carried in the hand cars presently used by railway maintenance men. With this device it is a quick and simple matter to pull out spikes so that the removal and replacement of rails is expedited, and the operation is much cheaper and easier.

I contemplate that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown and I do not wish to be limited in any particular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, in a spike puller, a generally Z- shaped base member having a depending leg with a supporting foot at the bottom of said leg, an elevated plat- `form portion and a stabilizing finger at the end of said platform, a vertically positioned upstanding housing on said platform, a cup washer mounted over the upper end of the housing, a downwardly facing open-ended cylinder telescopically carried over said cup washer and housing, a cradle connected to said open-ended cylinder, said cradle having a forked end for connection beneath a spike head, and air supply means to provide a source of air under pressure connected with the inside of said cylinder for raising the same and simultaneously raising said cradle, including an air conduit connected to the upper end of said housing, said air under pressure being directed through said conduit, said cradle being pivotally mounted on the sides of said cylinder for back and forth movement at opposite sides of the platform to engage or release a spike head.

2. A spike puller for removing a spike holding a rail on a tie, comprising a base member having a supporting leg and a transversely extending foot on said leg for resting on the tie, an elevated platform portion for resting on the rail head and a linger at the end of said platform for hooking over said rail head, a vertically positioned housing on said platform disposed above and over a spike holding said rail on said tie a cup washer fastened to the upper end of said housing, a downwardly facing open-ended cylinder telescopically mounted over said washer and housing, a generally U-shaped cradle rockably connected to said open-ended cylinder, said cradle having a forked end adapted for connection beneath the spike head directly underneath said cylinder and housing and conduit means to supply a source of air under pressure to said cylinder for moving the same upward and for simultaneously raising said cradle.

3. A spike puller for removing a spike holding a rail on a tie, comprising a generally stepped base member having a leg and a supporting foot at the bottom of said leg for resting on the tie, an elevated platform portion for resting on the rail head and a downwardly depending finger on said platform for hooking over said rail head, a vertically positioned upstanding housing on said platform vertically aligned over a spike holding said rail on said tie, -a cup washer fastened to the upper end of the housing, a downwardly facing open-ended cylinder telescopically mounted over said washer and housing, a generally U-shaped cradle connected to said openended cylinder, said cradle having a hoizontally arranged forked end for engaging beneath the spike head, and means to supply a source of air under pressure to the inside of said cylinder for moving the same upward and simultaneously raising said cradle, said leg and foot including adjustable mechanism connected therebetween for varying the height of said platform in relation to the foot.

4. A railroad spike puller comprising a base substantially of rail height to seat upon a rail and a tie, said base having a leg to rest upon the tie and a platform supported on said leg substantially at rail height to seat upon the rail head with a finger on the platform to engage a side of the rail head, said base having an upright housing on said platform forming a fixed piston with a cup washer secured to the upper end thereof, a bodily movable open-ended cylinder telescopically engaged over said fixed piston housing for movement between said platform and a raised position thereabove, a spike removing element having pivotal connections at opposite sides of said cylinder to swing toward and away from the side of the rail, said element having a fork thereon to engage under the head of a spike in a location substantially in line with the axis of said cylinder and below said platform, and a uid supply means connected with the cylinder to supply fluid under pressure into the 4 cylinder over the fixed piston to raise said cylinder to simultaneously elevate the spike removing element and its fork to draw the spike out of the tie.

5. in the combination of claim 4 wherein said spike removing element comprises a Ushaped cradle frame having upright legs and a bottom cross arm, said upright legs straddling the opposite outward sides of the base to connect with said bodily movable cylinder, and said cross arm being disposed beneath the base platform and providing the means to carry said fork toward and away from the spike location on the tie.

6. In the combination of claim 4, wherein said fluid supply means comprises a valve controlled fluid conduit extending into the fixed piston housing from the platform end thereof and having a uid discharge connection from said fixed piston housing into the space thereover to supply the interior of said cylinder with cylinder actuation fluid.

7. A spike puller to remove a spike holding a rail to a tie, comprising a base member to rest upon a tie and across the head of the rail including holding means to engage behind said rail head, an open center cradle having a spike engaging fork on one end thereof, a translatory movable unit mounted above said base member having fulcrum pins thereon to receive and to pivotally support the other end of the cra-dle to suspend the spike fork below said base member and to allow the forked end of the cradle to swing toward and away from a spike to permit hooking the free fork end of said cradle under the head of a spike, means on said base member supporting said movable unit, and means for actuating said movable unit to thereby actuate the cradle and its fork in a direction to withdraw a fork engaged spike, said cradle straddling the base member to follow the motion of said movable unit while pulling said spike beneath said base member.

v8. ln a spike puller as in claim 7, wherein said first named means comprises an upwardly extended boss on the base member and said movable unit includes an inverted uid cylinder freely riding upon said boss, said cylinder carrying the fulcrum pins that suspend said cradle.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 880,210 Gloner Feb. 25, 1908 932,903 Reiley Aug. 31, 1909 1,093,863 Kugler Apr. 21, 1914 2,763,465 Tosi et al Sept. 18, 1956 2,826,446 Hursh Mar. 11, 1958 2,911,190 Creason Nov. 3, 1959 2,928,654 Dann et al Mar. 15, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 806,144 Germany June 11, 1951 

